Effects of nikkomycin and echinocandin on differentiated and undifferentiated mycelia of Botrytis cinerea and Mucor rouxii

Sensitivity of Fungi to Nikkomycin Z

“…In G. candidum and M. plumbeus the antibiotic also caused significant reductions in rates of hyphal extension and swelling and bursting of hyphal apices. The sensitivity of M. plumbeus to nikkomycin supports previous observations using M. rouxii (Müller et al, 1981;Furter and Rast, 1985;Zhu and Gooday, 1992). Zhu and Gooday (1992) reported that both young (12 h) and older differentiated hyphae burst 1-2 min after treatment with 100 mol nikkomycin Z.…”

“…These few studies have concentrated on effects of the antibiotic on Mucor rouxii (Müller et al, 1981;Furter and Rast, 1985;Zhu and Gooday, 1992) and Botrytis cinerea (Zhu and Gooday, 1992).…”

Nikkomycin Z supersensitivity of an echinocandin-resistant mutant of Saccharomyces cerevisiae

“…While nikkomycins are competitive inhibitors of chitin synthases (8), echinocandins are noncompetitive inhibitors of 1,3-␤-glucan synthase (4,15,24). The two drugs bring about similar effects, culminating in cessation of cell growth and swelling and, in some cases, bursting of hyphal tips and buds (8,9,41,59). Both chitin and 1,3-␤-glucan have potential as chemotherapeutic targets in fungi (23,28,59).…”

“…The two drugs bring about similar effects, culminating in cessation of cell growth and swelling and, in some cases, bursting of hyphal tips and buds (8,9,41,59). Both chitin and 1,3-␤-glucan have potential as chemotherapeutic targets in fungi (23,28,59).…”

“…This may explain, at least in part, the lack of genetic analysis of nikkomycin resistance in yeasts. Efficiency of transport through the peptide transport systems and susceptibility to degradation are two important factors that influence the antifungal activities of the nikkomycins (16,28,59). …”